Feeding Habits of Northeast Atlantic Harp Seals ( Phoca groenlandica) along the Summer Ice Edge of the Barents Sea

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Lydersen, Christian, Angantyr, Lars Anker, Wiig, Øystein, Øritsland, Torger
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1991
• Subjects: Arctic cod; Barents Sea; Boreogadus saida; Greenland; Northeast Atlantic; Pandalus borealis; Phoca groenlandica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f91-257; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f91-257

Stomachs from 58 harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) from the northern part of the Barents Sea were collected between August 20 and September 5, 1987. Fifty-six of the stomachs contained identifiable remains. The amphipod Parathemisto libellula was the most common food item, found in 98% of the seal stomachs and constituting 57.9% of the total volume. Fish were the second most important prey group, with Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) as the dominant species followed by Nybelin's sculpin (Triglops nybelini) and Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides). Decapods, mainly Pandalus borealis, were also common as prey of harp seals. No sex- or age-related differences in choice of food were found. From knowledge of the depths at locations where seals were collected and the presence of fresh benthic fishes in the seal stomachs, it is assumed that harp seals could forage at depths below 300 m.